He couldn’t believe it. Volt had fallen unconscious twice, and he didn’t even know what hit him. He just knew he had to find Abyss.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRuawpaW2i
Volt threw caution to the wind and began to run through this massive underground structure. All sort of machines, top secret weapons and strange liquids, not to mention a life support monitor.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4WKJYfghn
What are they doing down here?328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvnPnlAta0
Volt shook off the curiosity. He couldn’t help but feel like it was his fault Abyss was missing in this place, and that terrified him.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt67cSIQac
“I should have stopped him,” Volt growled. He swore under his breath in his first language, but then, realizing no one would understand, hear, or care around here, he shouted it at the top of his lungs before calling out. “ABYSS, WHERE ARE YOU?!” 328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJJvzECb20
No response this time. I hope he’s okay...328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2k3PqK6TW
Volt continued to search for what felt like another hour. He grew continuously more panicked as he found spots where it looked like wires were ripped out of the various machines. Volt worried about all these high-voltage machines and the live wires protruding from them. He wouldn’t be affected by them, but if Abyss wasn’t actively trying to absorb their power as he made contact, Volt swallowed back a lump in his throat as he called out again.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv2Y4PrN7J
Eventually, Volt found Abyss sitting, dazed against a machine. Destroyed wires sat around the dark-haired twin, and Volt felt a surge of devastation strike. Did he get electrocuted? Why is he zoning out? If he’s been awake, why didn’t he respond? “Abyss!”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv13jZR3zVI
Abyss shook himself and looked up at Volt. “Huh?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWrsOd6evZ
Volt ran over to his brother and grabbed his shoulders tightly, shouting at Abyss in their first language. “You almost gave me a heart attack! And you don’t have enough control of my power to bring me back! What were you thinking? Didn’t you hear me calling for you?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQFyzOVtpq
“Before or after the second wave?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1HSYJeQ6N
“Second wave of what?” Volt asked, feeling flustered.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jKufinuuK
“That girl... she had some sort of toxic power...”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX1Pfwlvez
“What girl? Alexandra? Sol, this isn’t funny,” Volt said, fuming. “Your brain didn’t get scrambled, right? Why aren’t you making sense.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVpfMkkZTe
“No, someone else entirely. She’s the one who knocked you out.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wM0RD5qkW
“What? She... okay? Did she try and abduct you or something?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxYs7aQXzb
“I mean, she kind of did?” Abyss answered.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9HMjYEsy7
Volt groaned, “helpful. Look, I think we need to make an agreement. No more separating. I’m lucky I found you.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiIsPqAcys
“I agree,” Abyss pressed. “Seriously. It’s not like I could do much to prevent it.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHx1tYcXH9
Volt sighed. “Fine. Fine. But don’t you see? This is what happens when you go off looking for danger.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQc6PumOrt
“This is the worst trouble I’ve gotten us in up to date,” Abyss argued, “I’d say we’re even after your skydiving stunt.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FRXRQbD0I
“Regardless, it could have been a lot worse,” Volt lectured.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qk2jr6JBa
“I know that! Believe me, I do! You don’t even know the half of it.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUMGL3dags
Volt felt his breath catch in shock. “What? What’s that supposed to mean?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONbQ33uKjm
Abyss didn’t respond.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkH9pasQYY
Volt shook his brother, “Abyss, talk to me! Come on, man, you’re scaring me!”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8jrRmXaDu
“Sorry! Sorry! Is that what you want?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPOhH35X5R
Volt clenched his teeth. “I want to know what’s going on with you lately,” Volt growled.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58Lxr9Vcsf
Abyss balled his fists. “Alright. Alright! You want to know what’s going on? I’ll tell you! I didn’t want to come here! I don’t like all these people staring at us like we’re aliens just because we were raised by them. I hate knowing Kronos just wants to use us to hurt people, and you don’t seem to care!” Abyss got up and stormed off in the direction of the exit, grabbing his own arm, nails digging into his flesh. Volt stared helplessly back at Abyss.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80XBT5GkDt
He didn’t want to admit to himself that Abyss had been growing more detached and distant.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnmySYO8eC
Volt was starting to worry that they were growing apart.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO8eWycIBH
“You’re right, let’s go,” Volt muttered to himself. “I wasn’t even supposed to come down here to look for you, but do I get any thanks? Of course, not...”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7WV3zktg9
No response.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xnhxFzCxR
Neither brother expected this would be their last chance to talk to each other.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLhya8jicc
* * *
The next day, the commander met up with Abyss and Volt after their training with Alexandra. The older man had grim expression on his face. Volt could tell something was off. This wasn’t the man he was talking to in the elevator yesterday.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbePrDpqjVG
“Advancements have been made concerning the fate of the world, and it comes with troubling news. I hope you both are ready.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFKm9DkrhY
“Ready?” Volt asked. He looked behind himself to make sure Abyss was there, but the dark-haired brother had lagged to speak with Alexandra. Volt wished he could know what Abyss was talking about, but at the same time, her worried it might be about their dispute from yesterday. Abyss hadn’t said another word to Volt since.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Ap8gpnSI
“Fate is not kind. Have you boys ever killed before?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj6aHYjjXV
Volt’s eyes widened in surprise. “No,” he said simply. He swallowed and hardened his expression. He couldn’t let himself be thrown off by this topic. He was part of a war against humanity, he knew there would be death at some point.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo6s3ooiiY
“I need one of you for an essential task. I have trained my soldier to fight against those with supernatural abilities, but this opponent seems outs of reach for even the best of us.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AAi4XQYjC
“I’ll go,” Volt answered, without hesitation. If going himself meant Abyss would stay here, if he could know for certain that Abyss would be safe, he would do anything, even kill himself.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7FRKWnuYg
The commander just nodded. “I heard of yesterday’s incidents; you and your brother went to the bottom floor and were attacked.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5ZAAURR4U
“That’s right.”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNftwocGQt
“You released one of the most dangerous threats this world has ever faced. If we don’t end this now, there will be no one left to save. Achlys. I made a mistake in locking her away instead of.... executing a threat. I’m relying on you to fix my mistake.” Volt could tell this topic was difficult for Commander H.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSS4q7DieZ
“Yes, sir. Where do I go? What do I need to know?”328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnt8pt20pN
With that, the commander led Volt away, leaving Abyss behind.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlvagmDzaO
* * *
“This is difficult for me to ask,” the commander explained in the confines of his office.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD05UhSoA10
Volt stood stiff, arms pinned to his sides as he looked straight ahead. His first mission.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNiXRRVe9V
The commander told Volt all about Achlys’ abilities to create chemicals and gasses on a whim. Volt learned about the tell in her hair. If it glowed, she was using this ability. However, he also warned of a threat that even the commander didn’t know much about. He only knew about the potentials of this second ability.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye90BTgBhI
Umbrakinesis.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw3rFMZAV2
The manipulation of shadows and abilities that can be used in darkness.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q2xIweRum
He said she could have teleportation, gain temporary physical transparency, the ability to summon creatures of darkness, summon weapons from the shadows, enhanced strength and agility, regeneration, and a variety of other potential abilities. 328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wOOPun2No
The truth was, there was no way to know for certain what she would be able to do with this power.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYEGq49la5
Volt never considered the possibility of multiple powers before now. Did she have multiple cartridges in her heart? It didn’t seem possible. One was already a dangerous procedure. Or was she one of these “Inhuman” threats that PISTOL swore against? Whichever one, she was the target, and one Volt would have to take down in a controlled environment.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6iGjMbK7V
* * *
Before Volt left, he wrote a note for Abyss and left it on his brother’s pillow. He couldn’t explain much. The mission was top-secret. Not even Alexandra knew according to H. Still, he explained that he would be back in a few weeks after he did an important job for the commander and explained that they wouldn’t give him time to say goodbye in person.
* * *
The first few nights were detective work. Volt got a lead on a power outage at a Samsung tech store a couple towns over. During this time, only a holo-watch was stolen.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxGjwfGWUt
A similar lead took him to a well-known fast-food chain restaurant.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31v6Gznvzn
It was strange. The restaurant was closer to PISTOL HQ than the tech store, but the incident at the restaurant happened after the store. That’s when Volt realized she was might be going back to HQ.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQA7z9zz5H
Commander H told Volt to trust his instincts and be cautious. She was dangerous and could try anything. Volt knew he had to be on edge. It was near midnight the next day by the time he arrived back at HQ, but he didn’t make his presence known to anyone.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhxfwqDdcH
Three more restaurant blackouts occurred in the area.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh9ASlKFCT
“Must be hard to find a job for lunch money after escaping an underground rebel prison,” Volt muttered. He paused a moment. He tried to think of a better way to word that but gave up as he heard movement.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCTfIl8FQ4
He slowly but quickly followed it and found a dark mass clinging to the exterior of the base before climbing into a window.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypMQNAKhO0
Alarms sounded in the back of Volt’s mind.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREw9mdAOCt
She re-entered the base.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8xTU1vWLW
He began to panic and try to think of ways to get up to that level quickly, but he came up blank.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK55NqsBSmj
That’s when he heard thunder in the distance as a drizzle came down. He saw a flash of lightning and got an idea. He concentrated his energy in the feet causing multiple blasts of electricity to launch him up. As he began to fall, he created another blast. It sounded like a terrible storm.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrYFj8rEet
The shockwaves propelled Volt upwards, but his legs were in agony near the end. He barely caught himself on the windowsill and pulled himself up with only his fingertips. He looked inside and saw Achlys leave a note by the bottom bunk. The top bunk of this room was empty.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZIjYufZ4u
Volt’s eyes widened when he realized this was his room, and she was leaving a note for Abyss.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWNZM4qYIY
Suddenly, Volt’s hands slipped. From this height, a normal person would have died, but using multiple blasts from his hands, Volt was able to slow his ascent to minimize damage when he collided with the ground.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgCe0vxYWz
The wind was knocked out of Volt, and he could tell multiple ribs were broken, but somehow, he survived the damage he sustained.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitssYTgRGP
That’s when he saw the figure fly out of the window at high speeds. Volt forced himself up as soon as possible to follow at light speed as his legs screamed at him to stop.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc5LAYp38W
* * *
Three days later, he finally caught up with her.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCStASiozq
It was broad daylight as she wandered the streets outside Queen Ember’s castle. She seemed to be examining the layout, exterior, and guard posts. She was planning something, but she would never be able to pull it off.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0QsER9l6k
Volt thought about the fear that gripped his heart when Abyss went missing in that place. At the time, he had no idea if his brother was alive. He didn’t know how he let Abyss get taken. But now he did know. Based on what Abyss said, based on everything H told him, Volt knew that if this woman was alive, Abyss was in danger.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrUQAuJ2je
He pictured her standing over Abyss in his sleep, the dark, deadly form. He remembered how everything could have gone wrong that night if she spotted Volt.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN3b9ejn4p
This woman was dangerous, and Volt was the only one who could stop her.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1Zrwrfz7e
Volt charged a direct blast. A lightning spear should do the job. Volt smiled. After this, he could rest easy.328Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HS0PDcxEZ
But she heard the high-pitched scream of electricity and spun around to face him. Her hair glowed green, and Volt knew to hold his breath, but without a constant flow of breath, his own electricity blew up in his face, knocking him back several paces. Everything went black.
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